Blog: www.kgmb9.com/howard

Video Headline:

Not since 9/11 have airline passengers been so dissatisfied. And some airlines are doing an even worse job than the others. We've got the new annual consumer survey on this topic by the University of Michigan. Two airlines now talking merger -- United and US Airways -- come in next-to-last and last on the list. Merger partners are supposed to have complementary strengths but nobody is complimenting these two carriers! Northwest scored almost as low as those two, and the other majors, Delta, American and Continental, weren't THAT much higher. Professor Claes Fornell, who directs the survey, said there is no other industry anywhere that has so many basic mishaps in terms of not delivering the basics.

Other Business News:

In a major announcement for the Hawaii shipping community, Matson says it will not match the coming fuel surcharge increase by Horizon Lines. Horizon is going above 35% -- Matson is holding below 34% -- saying it is reaping more financial good by taking one of its older ships out of service and relying more on its four newer diesel-powered vessels.

The White House has been urging OPEC to do something about oil prices. And it has. The head of OPEC said there will be no production hike before the next meeting, and that statement quite predictable made oil prices RISE to 129 dollars a barrel.

The Hawaii Build & Buy Green Conference opens this morning at the Hawaii Convention Center. The two-day conference could draw 500 attendees. Also starting this morning is that conference of safety engineers we told you about yesterday.

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